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��HILLSBOROUGH.
��that followed, re-echoed back by the hills, showed how " one touch of nature makes
the whole world kin."'
Two days after the encounter between the patriots and the British soldiers at Lexington, Benjamin Pierce, then eight- een years old, was holding the plow in his uncle's field in Chelmsford when the news of that event arrived. He im- mediately left the plow, took his uncle's gun and equipments and started for Bos- ton. There he enlisted; was present at the battle of Bunker Hill, remained in the service during the war, and was on the staft of George Washington until the final disbandment of the American Army at West Point in 1784. He returned to Hillsborough in 1786, and earnestly en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He took great interest in military affairs, holding offices in the militia from Colonel to Gen- eral of Brigade. He was also called upon to fill many political offices, such as Representative, Counsellor and Presi- dential Elector. He finally was chosen Governor of New Hampshire in 1827-9. His public services in one capacity and another extended over fifty years. At his death, which took place in April, 1839. and when i:i his 82d year, he was Vice President of the Society of the Cin- cinnati. He was patriotic, brave, noble- minded and charitable ; a benefactor to his country, and a blessing to his State and society — and no one memory associ- ated with the past history of Hillsbor- ough, brings up higher feelings of res- pect and veneration than that of General Benjamin Pierce. Many anecdotes illus- trative of his character and virtues sur- vive him. There never was a spot on his patriotism or bravery. As showing the character of the latter, it is authenticated that, having been taken prisoner at Long Island, he was there put on parole, and one day attended a horse race conducted by English officers. Here he expressed an opinion concerning one of the racers which gave umbrage to an English offi- cer, who slapped Lieut. Pierce with the fiat of his sword. " Fettered by my pa- role, and unarmed," said Pierce, " I can not now resent this indignity, but the chances of war may yet bring us togeth- er!" And such proved to be the case.
��A chance occurred at the siege of New York, where the two fought, and the English officer fell pierced by the sword of his antagonist. His earnest patriot- ism was shown on the occasion of his in- viting nineteen of his old Revolutionary compatriots (all residents of Hillsbor- ough), to dinner on one of the anniver- saries of a Continental triumph. This happened but a few years previous to his death. One of the veterans remarked the absence of one of their number who lived in the town, and mentioned the fact to the Governor, who said, "I invite no one to my table who is afraid of the smell of gunpowder."
When High Sheriff of Hillsborough County his duties called him at one time to Amherst, where he found, imprisoned in the jail, three Revolutionary soldiers. Interesting himself in their behalf he learned the prisoners had served their country well and faithfully — had honora- ble discharges, but at the close of the Revolution, like hundreds of their com- rades, were penniless. They had, after long and weary days of travel, reached their homes, where a merciless creditor secured their arrest and imprisonment for debt. Ascertaining these facts, he in- stantly discharged their liability, and, taking the keys from the jailor, unlocked the prison doors, and leading the old vet- erans from confinement, pointing to the blue sky above them said : " Go, breathe the free air! There can be no true re- publican liberty when such men as you are consigned to prison for such a cause."
Many were prominent in revolutionary times, whose names and deeds survive in grateful remembrance. Among them were Calvin Stevens, Nathaniel Johnson, Samuel Murdough, Isaac Andrews, Sam- uel Symonds, John McColley, William Booth, William Jones, Joseph Taggart, Asa Wilkins, and Jacob Flint.
MORE RECENT WARS.
In the war of 1812, the men of Hills- borough bore a distinguished part. Gen. John McNeil and Col. Benjamin K. Pierce held commands, and fought in the battles of Lundy's Lane and Chippewa — Gen. McNeil receiving a bad wound in the first named engagement. Lieut. John W. S.
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